Pontoon boat

ABSTRACT

A multi-hull boat having a plurality of pontoons. The pontoons are coupled together by cross members that are recessed within the pontoons. A multi-panel floor or deck is coupled to the pontoons with joints that receive edges of the panels.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/488,368 filed Jul. 18, 2003, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to boats. More particularly, this disclosure relates to multi-hull boats such as pontoon boats.

BACKGROUND

A typical pontoon boat includes a deck mounted on at least two separate floats or hulls. The separate hulls of a pontoon boat are commonly referred to as “floats”, “pontoons”, “logs”, or “sponsons”. Cross braces are typically mounted across the top sides of the hulls to secure the hulls together, and the deck is mounted to the top sides of the cross braces. Examples of pontoon boats are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,184,561; 5,209,177 and 5,435,260.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an efficient and aesthetically pleasing technique for coupling multiple hulls of a boat together.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an efficient and aesthetically pleasing technique for securing a floor to multiple hulls of a multi-hull boat.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to system for coupling multiple hulls together and for supporting a floor, the system having a relatively small profile and a relatively large contact area for supporting the floor.

A variety of examples of desirable product features or methods are set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing various aspects of the disclosure. The aspects of the disclosure will relate to individual features as well as combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pontoon boat having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the boat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the floor, cross members and pontoons of the pontoon boat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing how the floor of the pontoon boat interlocks with the cross members;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a molded step of the pontoon boat of FIG. 1, a boarding ladder is shown in a boarding position; and

FIG. 6 shows the molded rear step of FIG. 4 with the boarding ladder in a stowed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a multi-hull boat 20 having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The boat 20 has a floor or deck 22 mounted on a plurality of pontoons 24. In the depicted embodiment, the boat 20 includes three pontoons 24. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments two pontoons could be used, or in still other embodiments more than three pontoons could be used.

Referring to FIG. 2, the deck layout of the pontoon boat 20 includes a driving console 21 and a plurality of cushioned seats 28. The deck layout also includes an anchor storage locker 30 and hatches 32 for accessing under deck storage areas. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage areas are preferably provided by recesses or cavities 40 defined within the top sides of the pontoons 24. In certain embodiments, the cavities 40 can have a depth of at least 15 inches, a width of at least 20 inches, and a length of at least 5 feet. In one embodiment, certain storage compartments 40 can each extend at least 25 percent of the length of each of the pontoons 24. In other embodiments, one or more storage compartments can occupy or coincide with a majority of the length of each of the pontoons 24.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the deck layout also includes boarding step structures 50 integrally molded within the rear ends of the pontoons 24. A boarding ladder 52 is provided adjacent one of the steps. The deck layout further includes a collapsible privacy enclosure 54. Details regarding the privacy enclosure 54 can be found in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/623,476, entitled Privacy Enclosure, which was filed on Jul. 13, 2003.

To promote manufacturing efficiency, it is preferred for each of the pontoons 24 to have an identical construction. As shown in FIG. 3, the center pontoon 24 is forwardly staggered or offset relative to the port and starboard pontoons 24. It is preferred for the pontoons 24 to be manufactured from a plastic material using a rotational molding process. Examples of rotational molding processes suitable for making the pontoons are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,458,844; 5,634,425 and 6,513,736, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. However, it will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the pontoons may be made of alternative materials such as aluminum, fiber reinforced resin, or other materials.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the pontoons 24 are coupled together by a plurality of cross members 60. Cross members 60 extend over the top sides of the pontoons 24 across the width of the boat 20. It is preferred for the cross members 60 to be made of a steel material such as stainless steel. However, materials such as aluminum, plastic or wood or other materials could also be used. In one embodiment, the cross members 60 are made of square tubing and include a top slot 65 that extends along the length of each cross member 60.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the pontoons 24 has a top side 70 at which two generally parallel, spaced apart rails 72 are located. The rails 72 extend generally from the stem to the bow of the boat 20. The storage compartments 40 are defined between the rails 72. Top surfaces 76 of the rails 72 are preferably co-planar and provide structure for supporting the floor 22. Each of the pontoons 24 also includes a central bulkhead 77 that extends between the rails 72.

The boat 20 is preferably equipped with structure for recessing the cross members 60 within the pontoons 24. By recessing the cross members 60, the overall height or profile of the boat can be reduced. Also, by recessing the cross members 60, the cross members can be more easily hidden from view thereby improving the overall aesthetic appearance of the boat. Moreover, by recessing the cross members 60, in certain embodiments, top surfaces 61 of the cross members 60 can be positioned flush or co-planar with the top sides 76 of the rails 72 such that the underside of the deck 22 is supported upon both the cross members 60 and the rails 72. In this manner, the floor can be more supported at more support locations which reduces the amount the floor may flex.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the rails 72 define notches or recesses 78 for receiving the cross members 60. It is preferred for the recesses 78 to have a depth d equal to the height h of each of the cross members 60. In this manner, top sides 61 of the cross members 60 will be generally flush or co-planar with the top sides 76 of the rails 72. However, in alternative embodiments, the depth d may be larger than the height h, such that the top sides 61 of the cross members 60 are recessed relative to the top sides 76 of the rails 72. In still other embodiments, the depth d may be shallower than the heights h such that the top surfaces 76 of the rails 72 are lower than the top surfaces 61 of the cross members 60.

Still referring to FIG. 3, some of the cross members 60 are positioned to cross extend over the bulkheads 77 of the pontoons 24. To accommodate these cross members 60, elongated recesses 80 are provided above the bulkheads.

It is preferred for the cross members 60 to be secured to the pontoons 24 with fasteners. For example, in one embodiment, fasteners such as nuts 90 are embedded within the pontoons 24 at the bottom walls 83 of the recesses 78 (see FIG. 4). Fasteners such as bolts 84 are threaded into the nuts to secure the cross members 60 to the pontoons 24.

It is preferred to secure the deck 22 to the pontoons 24 and cross brace assembly with a minimum number of fasteners. This is accomplished by using a plurality of joints 100 to secure the floor in place. As shown in FIG. 3, the deck 22 includes six floor panels 22 a-22 f secured in place by joints 100 a-100 e. As shown in FIG. 4, the joints 100 each include an upper portion 102 interconnected to a lower portion 104 by an upright leg 106. Elongated receptacles 108 (e.g., slots, cavities or notches) that face in opposite directions are defined between the upper portion 102 and the lower portion 104. The slots 108 are sized to receive lips 110 of the floor panels 22 a-22 f. The lips 110 preferably have a stepped-down thickness as compared to the main bodies of the panels 22 a-22 f so as to be recessed. The lower portion 104 of each joint 100 is sized to fit within an interior of a corresponding one of the cross braces 60. The top sides of the cross braces 60 define slots 65 sized to receive the upright legs 106 of the joints 100. Thus, when assembled as shown in FIG. 4, the lower portions 104 fit within the interiors of the cross members 60, the legs 106 project upwardly from the interior of the cross members 60 through the slots 65, and the upper portions 102 of the joints are positioned outside and above the cross members 60.

To assemble the floor, joint 100 a is inserted within its corresponding cross member 60 (see FIG. 4). The front lip 110 of the floor panel 22 a is then inserted within the notch 108 of the joint 100 a. Once the lip 110 is inserted within the notch 108, the back side of the panel 22 a is secured to the rails 72 by conventional techniques such as fasteners such as screws. Once the panel 22 a is secured, the rear lip 110 of panel 22 b is inserted into the forward notch 108 of the joint 100 a with the underside of the panel 22 b resting on the rails 72 and the supports 60. Thereafter, joint 100 b is inserted into its corresponding cross member 60 and slid longitudinally along slot 65 such that the front lip 110 of panel 22 b is captured within the rear notch 108 of the joint 100 b. This process is repeated until each of the panels 22 a-22 f is secured by their respective joints 100 a-100 e. After the rear edge of panel 22 f is secured within its corresponding joint 100 e, the front portion of the panel 22 f is secured to the pontoons 24 by conventional techniques such as screws to prevent the rear edge from disengaging from the joint 10 e. As shown in FIG. 4, when assembled, top surfaces of the joints 100 a-100 e are flush with top surfaces of the floor panels 22 a-22 f.

While the floor panels 22 a-22 f can be made of any number of different types of materials, it is preferred for the panels to be made of a plastic material such as polyethylene. In one embodiment, the floor is made of a plastic material and has a thickness less than three quarters of an inch. In another embodiment, the floor is made of plastic and has a thickness less than or equal to five eighths of an inch.

Referring to FIG. 1, the pontoon boat 20 is preferably equipped with a railing 130 that encloses the deck area. In certain embodiments, rail stanchions 131 of the railing 130 can be mounted to the cross members 60 for strength.

To improve the aesthetic look of the boat 20, it is preferred for the cross members 60 to not be visible. To hide the cross-members 60, trim pieces 160 (see FIG. 1) are mounted about the perimeter of the deck 22 so as to cover the ends of the cross braces 60 and to prevent the cross braces from being seen from the front, sides or back of the boat. The trim pieces preferably extend along the port and starboard sides of the boat as well as along the bow and stem of the boat. Additionally, trim pieces can be mounted on the underside of the boat at the regions between each of the pontoons 20. Such trim pieces extend generally parallel to the pontoons 24 and prevent the braces 60 from being visible from the underside of the boat.

As previously indicated, the middle pontoon 24 is forwardly staggered relative to the port and starboard pontoons. Because the pontoons are of equal lengths, this staggering forwardly offsets the central pontoon 24 at both the bow and the stem of the boat. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the offset adjacent the stem provides space for mounting a motor mount 200.

Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, the integrated rear step structure 50 includes steps 50 a and 50 b. To facilitate access to step 50 a, a cutaway region 300 is provided in the deck 22. In use, the cutaway region 300 allows a passenger to easily step down or up between the deck 22 and the step 50 a. When the boarding ladder 52 is stowed as shown in FIG. 6, a lowermost step 400 of the ladder 52 is configured to fill the cutaway region 300. In a preferred embodiment, the step 400 is flush with the top side of the deck 20. However, in other embodiments, the step 400 may be raised or slightly recessed relative to the top deck surface. By blocking the cutaway region, the step 400 prevents passengers of the boat from inadvertently stepping through the cutaway region 300. When in the boarding/unboarding position of FIG. 5, the steps of the ladder allow a passenger to easily climb onto or climb from the step structure 50.

With regard to the forgoing description, changes may be made in detail, especially with regard to the shape, size and arrangement of the parts. It is intended that the specification and depicted aspects be considered illustrative only and not limiting with respect to the broad underlying concepts of the present disclosure. 

1. A boat comprising: a plurality of hulls; a plurality of hulls; a plurality of cross members interconnecting the hulls together; and the hulls including top sides defining the recesses for receiving the cross members.
 2. The boat of claim 1, wherein each of the hulls includes a pontoon having two elongated, spaced apart top rails, the rails defining recesses in the form of notches for receiving the cross members.
 3. The boat of claim 2, wherein storage compartments are defined within the pontoons between the rails.
 4. The boat of claim 2, wherein the rails define deck supporting surfaces that are flush with deck supporting surfaces defined by top sides of the cross members.
 5. The boat of claim 1, wherein the cross members are secured to the hulls by fasteners, at least portions of the fasteners being embedded within the hulls.
 6. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a deck secured to the cross members by joints, the deck including a plurality of panels having edges received within receptacles defined by the joints.
 7. The boat of claim 6, wherein the cross members define top slots, wherein the joints include lower portions positioned within the cross members, upper portions positioned above the cross members, and intermediate portions that extend through the top slots in the cross members between the upper and lower portions.
 8. A boat comprising a plurality of hulls; a deck supported above the hulls, the deck including a plurality of panels; and a plurality of joints for securing the panels of the deck to the hulls, the joints including receptacles for receiving edges of the panels.
 9. The boat of claim 8, wherein the hulls are interconnected by cross members, and the joints interlock with the cross members.
 10. The boat of claim 9, wherein the joints are generally parallel to the cross members and include portions received within the cross members and portions that extend upwardly through the cross members.
 11. The boat of claim 8, wherein the edges of the panels are defined by lips that are stepped-down relative to main bodies of the panels.
 12. A boat comprising: a hull; a deck supported on the hull; a step provided within the hull; a cutaway region provided within the deck for providing access to the step; a boarding ladder connected to the hull adjacent to the step, the boarding ladder being movable from between a stowed position and a board/un-board position; and the boarding ladder including a portion that blocks the cutaway portion of the deck when in the stowed position. 